Fatal fire in Bottesford ‘not suspicious’ say police

Graham Newton

Police say they are not treating Sunday’s fatal fire in Bottesford as suspicious.

Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service have completed their investigations at the scene of the fatal house fire in Grantham Road, Bottesford.

The fire was reported at about 1.50pm on Sunday, April 19, and the body of a woman was discovered in the property. The woman has been named locally as Lesley Grice.

The fire spread to a number of neighbouring properties and nearby homes were evacuated while fire crews tackled the blaze.

A stretch of Grantham Road was closed on Monday and Tuesday to allow for a forensic examination to be carried out at the scene.

A post mortem examination was carried out on Monday and further enquiries are being conducted to identify the person found in the premises.

From enquiries conducted at the scene the fire is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for HM Coroner.

Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service thanked the local community for their patience and understanding while they carried out enquiries in the area.

Neighbours have spoken to the Journal about their sadness and how they are pulling together to help those people who have been forced out of their homes after the fire spread to cottages either side of the house where it started.